Aspiring playwrights are having their work considered for production next year on a ‘fringe’ stage at New Wimbledon Theatre.
By Benedict Munden
Aspiring playwrights are having their work considered for production next year on a ‘fringe’ stage at New Wimbledon Theatre.
The theatre, which encouraged submissions as part of its Fresh Ideas project, will inform the chosen writers at the beginning of next month.
The plays will be performed in an 80-seater converted ballroom which legend has it was once danced in by Fred Astaire and his wife.
“The more intimate ‘black box’ performance space lends itself perfectly to smaller, more alternative theatre-going experiences,” said a spokesperson for the theatre.
Theatre-goers will be able to buy tickets for as little as £10 and the stage will have its own box office and bar.
This is the third year the theatre has run Fresh Ideas, and chosen playwrights have previously received interest from major producers and literary agents.
During the last year, ten world premieres were staged in the space, and several plays were picked up for performance elsewhere.
Local writer Paul Gabraiel said: “There are loads of people who have thought about writing a play but haven’t because they don’t think they’ll ever see them performed.
“This sounds like a great opportunity.”
Arts Council England used to support the theatre in a similar Emerging Directors project, which financially and professionally assisted talented new directors, but the funding has since stopped.
‘Fresh Ideas’ was born out of the cancelled ‘Emerging Directors Project’ and the theatre is completely accountable for all the costs.
New Wimbledon Theatre, which marked its centenary year in 2010, welcomes over 250,000 theatre-goers a year.
The ‘fringe’ stage was refurbished as part of the anniversary, following generous gifts from the theatre’s supporter’s group, Founder Friends.
